§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the accounting rules for diplomatic posts overseas relating to restrictions on the provision of financial assistance to Britons abroad who have got into serious financial difficulties.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydBefore financial assistance can be authorised the post must be satisfied that the applicant is destitute, has no funds in the United Kingdom, that his predicament is not of his own making, and that he cannot make use of a cheque card and cannot arrange for the rapid transfer of funds through commercial channels from relatives or friends.
Additionally, a small loan of up to £20 can be made if a British national loses his funds or has them stolen to enable him to get to an airport or be provided with an emergency passport. We would expect the applicant to have
- reported the loss at a police station;
- called the consulate immediately after making the
367 - police report;
- produced an air ticket;
- demonstrated that the air ticket is not transferable or refundable and has limited validity.
In all cases of financial assistance and repatriation, a legally binding undertaking to repay must be signed by the applicant.